Dem lawmaker: Obamacare oversight hearing a 'monkey court'

A Democratic congressman on Thursday called a Republican-led hearing on Obamacare glitches a “monkey court” designed to prevent Americans from enrolling for coverage through the new health care law.

Rep. Frank Pallone, of New Jersey, rebuked Rep. Joe Barton, Texas Republican, for claiming that legal language on the Obamacare website amounts to a violation of health privacy laws.

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Mr. Barton pressed Obamacare contractors on the wording, saying they should have raised an objection if they knew about fine print that says people should have no expectation of privacy in applying online for health coverage.

He said the language could violate the federal health information privacy laws, but contractors said the Obama administration was responsible for the language.

Mr. Pallone said the privacy law does not apply, because people are not supplying personal health information.

Mr. Barton asked the Democrat to yield so he could respond, but Mr. Pallone snapped back: “No, I will not yield to this monkey court.”

He said Republicans are trying to suppress enrollment so they can repeal or defund the Affordable Care Act.